At the SEC Tipoff ’25 Men’s Basketball Media Days on October 15, a handshake between Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and Alabama’s Nate Oats went viral. Many Auburn fans praised Pearl, while The Next Round Live’s assertion that “SEC Basketball runs through Alabama” faced backlash for overlooking the changing landscape in the region.
Some Auburn fans saw Pearl’s handshake as a power move, though he typically respects his peers. This moment tilted the narrative in Pearl’s favor, putting Oats at a disadvantage.
Alabama and Auburn ranked first and second, respectively, in USA Today’s SEC preseason rankings, reinforcing the notion that the recent champions hail from Alabama. Pearl expressed gratitude for being part of the SEC, stating, “I feel like I just got here,” and seems unlikely to leave for the Indiana job, given his strong support in the conference.